Spinning device for square container end closure seams



G. S. RIDER June 30, 1942.

SPINNING DEVICE FOR SQUARE CONTAINER END CLOSURE SEAMS Filed Aug. 19, 1959 M q .u

INVENTOR. GRANVlLLE S. RIDER ATTORNEY.

Patented June 30, 1942 SPINNING DEVICE FOR SQUARE CONTAINER END CLOSURE SEAMS Granville S. Rider, New, York, N. Y., assignor to Reinforced Paper Bottle Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application August 19, 1939, Serial No. 290,953

9 Claims.

This invention relates to spinning devices, and more particularly to a device in which the spinner elements travel circuitously in a substantial- 1y rectangular path.

Commonly, spinning operations are performed by rotation of the Work part against a spinner element, or by causing the spinner to travel in a circular path, relative to a fixed work part, against which it is forcibly pressed, thereby to curl or otherwise re-shape the. part operated upon.

An object of this invention is to provide a spinning device adapted for use on the straight edges and rounded corner intersections of square or other non-circular containers.

A further feature is in the provision of a spinning device for curling the edges of such containers, and also the corresponding edges on the skirt portion of closures inserted in the container shells, thereby to clinch and effectively seal the combined edges, forming a hermetically tight seam.

Another purpose is to produce a mechanism for infolding either or both end edges of a container, of rectangular or other non-circular cross section, together with end closures therein, in a manner hitherto considered unattainable, resulting in the production of containers characterized by their compactness, comely appearance, strength and utility.

These and other advantageous features are attained by the novel construction, combination an arrangement of mechanical elements, hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, constituting an important part of this disclosure, and in which:

Figure 1 is a partial side elevational, partial longitudinal sectional view of an embodiment of the invention, graphically illustrating its application.

Figure 2 is a transverse on line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a similar sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1, showing the sprocket chain drive means.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary top plan view of the sprocket chains and associated parts, including the spinners.

Figure 6 is a detailed spinner elements.

Figure 7 is a front end view of the same.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary view of a spinner as attached to its drive chain and a sectional sectional view taken side view of one of the view of the container shell and closure as undergoing operation.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary plan View of a container bottom after spinning a closure therein,

1 indicating its rounded corner.

a rigid support I! carrying the entire spinner head structure; a smaller diametered portion IQ of the shaft extends from the bearing I6 to a further reduced end portion 20 rotatable in a central opening in a rectangular block 2|, constituting one of main frame elements.

The corner portions of the block 2| are bored to receive stud bolts 23 having enlarged bodies 24 of uniform length to act as spacers between the block 2| and support [1, the reduced outer ends 25 of the stud bolts passing through the block and held by nuts 26, thereby holding the support I! and block 2| in rigid parallel relation.

Further to the front of the head is an open rectangular frame 28 and still further out is another similar frame 30, the stud bolts 23 passing through openings in their corners and carry spacer sleeves respectively 29 and 3|, the latter, rear sleeves of lesser length, all being clamped firmly together by nuts 32 on the outer front ends of the stud bolts.

Fixed in the support H, at equal radial distances from the axis of the shaft !5 and in alinement with the stud bolts 23, are bearing sleeves 35, similar sleeves 36 being located in registration in the block 2|.

Journalled in these sleeves are spindles 31 extending outwardly at the front beyond the block. Fixed fast on these spindles are hubbed pinions 38, their toothed portions adjacent the block 2|.

Secured to the shaft [5, on its portion I9, is a spur gear 40, meshed with the pinions to transmit uniform rotary motion to the spindles.

On the forwardly extending portions of the spindles 31 are fixedly secured sprocket wheels 4| having two annular rows of laterally spaced teeth 42-43 respective engaging twin chains 44-45.

The chain 44 consists of outer links 46-41 and inner links 48 connected by rivets 49. The chain 455 has similar outer links ll-5l and inner links 52 connected by rivets 53.

Rigidly extending between the adjacent outer links 4l--50 are posts 54 uniting the chains to operate as a unit.

On the forward faces of the links 5| are lugs 55, held by the rivets 53, and extending from the bases are spinner elements 55, actuated by the gear train as described.

Each spinner 56 consists of an extremely hard substance, generally an elongated rectangle in cross section having relatively wide flat parallel sides and rounded narrow sides; in side elevation the outer portion 51 is of greater length than the inner portion 58, to which it is joined by a base portion at the bottom of a semicircular recess 59, blending into an angular surface 50, leading to the outermost end of part 51; all the contacting surfaces are convexly curved and highly finished.

In order to guide and support the chain and spinners in their passage between the corner driving sprockets, intermediate idler sprockets 65 are arranged in registration with the sprockets 43, and freely mounted for rotation on studs 66 having enlarged heads 61 and reduced threaded ends 68 screwed into the block 2|. The intermediate open rectangular frame 28 also serves to resist the centrifugal tendency of the chain and spinning elements, guiding the spinning elements in the required path of motion.

It is to be noted that the frame 31] has its inner forward corners rounded, as at 3B, facilitating entrance of the squared end of a container shell X within the frame which it closely fits.

The closure insert Y is formed with an outwardly extending skirt Z, the insert being located within the shell at a predetermined distance from its edge by the end of a hollow arbor H close fitting the interior of the shell and provided with a shoulder 12 defining its enlarged portion 13.

This arbor is shown in Figure l, in connection with a container, in an advanced, operative position, which, upon further advancement, forces the extreme edge of the container shell, first against the inclined rounded surface 60 of the spinner, producing an initial incurling of the edge, and continuing, presses the combined edges of the shell X and closure skirt Z into the recesses 59 of the spinners, which due to their shape and rapid movement, enseam the shell and closure, as best seen in Figure 8.

The entered end 10 of the arbor, which closely fits the interior of the shell, positively locates the closure Y, relative to the shell, and the shoulder 12 prevents the shell from slipping; this is clearly disclosed in Figure 10; it will be apparent that geometrical shapes of containers, other than square, may be spun at their seams with corresponding closures in a similar manner.

The terms advance and retract are used relatively and it is obvious that either the spinner head or container arbor with the shell thereon or both may be moved.

The action and operation of the device is thought clearly apparent.

Therefore, having described the invention, together with its construction and operation, what is claimed as new and sought to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a machine for curling an end of a square container shell, a spinner device comprising a non-rotatable head, a plurality of chain connected spinner elements mounted to move circuitously therein, means to drive said elements, and means to guide said shell into the zone of operation of said elements.

2. In a machine for curling an end of a container shell, a spinning device comprising a nonrotatable head, means to guide the shell of a container therein, said container being a symmetrical polygon in cross section and having a closure including a skirt portion set therein, a plurality of spinner elements connected in tandem in said head to curl the end of the container and progressively the closure skirt, and means for driving said spinner elements in a circuitous path conformable to the shape of the container end.

3. A spinning mechanism for curling the end edges of a paper container shell inwardly, said shell having a skirted closure positioned therewithin, said container having at least one straight fiat wall joined by curves to the remaining walls, said mechanism comprising a head having an axial opening adapted to guide a shell entered therethrough, a shaft revoluble at a high speed in said head, an endless chain driven thereby, means to guide said chain in a circuitous path corresponding to the shape of said container end, a plurality of spinner elements carried by said chain to operatively engage the container end and closure skirt, and an arbor snug fitting the container, said arbor locating the closure, said head and arbor relatively movable in an axial plane toward and from one another.

4. A spinning mechanism for curling the end edges of a paper container shell inwardly, said shell having a skirted closure positioned therewithin, said container having at least one straight fiat wall joined by curves to the remaining walls, said mechanism comprising a head having an axial opening adapted to guide a shell entered therethrough, a shaft revoluble at a high speed in said head, a gear train driven thereby, an endless double chain actuated by said gear train, rneans to guide said chain in a patch conformable with the shape of the container end, spinner elements carried in spaced relation by said chain, said elements having outer raised portions, inclined faces and concavely curved bottoms to engage the edge of the container wall and upon relative advancement the skirt of said closure, and combined non-rotatable means to support the container shell and locate the closure therein.

5. A spinning mechanism for curling the end edges of a paper container shell inwardly, said shell having a skirted closure positioned therewithin, said container end non-circular in profile, an arbor snug fitting the container, means on said arbor to locate the closure at a predetermined distance from the end, a shoulder on said arbor to abut the open end of the container shell, a non-rotatable head having a fixed frame to guide a container shell entered therein, a second frame spaced rearwardly the first named frame, a plurality of formers directed outwardly and movable in contact with the inner surface of said second frame, flexible connections between said formers, and means to impart movement in one direction to said connections whereby the formers are continuously advanced, said formers shaped to engage and spin the edge of the container shell, together with the skirt of the closure, to form the combined edges into a close seam upon a relatively contractive movement between said head and arbor.

6. In a machine for curling an end of a container shell of polygonal cross section, means for holding the shell rigidly, a plurality of circuitously travelling chain connected spinners to contact the interior of the shell end, and means to move said spinners longitudinally relative to said shell.

7. In a machine for curling an end of a container shell of polygonal cross section having a cupped closure set therein, means for holding the shell rigidly, a plurality of circuitously travelling spinners flexibly connected in tandem to contact the interior of the shell end and skirted portion of said closure, and means to move said spinner longitudinally with relation to said shell.

8. In a machine for infolding the open end 15 of a substantially square container shell having a skirted closure therein, a plurality of U-shaped spinner elements to engage the end of the shell, a chain on which said elements are fixed nonrotatably in spaced relation, means for guiding said chain, and means to drive said chain.

9. In a machine for infolding the open end of a substantially square container shell having skirted closure therein, a plurality of spinner elements each having forked prongs to straddle the end edge of said shell, an endless chain on which said elements are rigidly fixed, drive sprockets for said chain, and guide sprockets intermediate thereof.

GRANVILLE S. RIDER. 

